Technology makes our lives easier and also allows genealogists to easily accomplish tasks that were difficult only a few years ago. A case in point is the handheld computer, often called a PDA (personal digital assistant). The six-ounce handheld computer that I carry with me almost constantly has become my most valuable genealogy research assistant. It also performs many other important functions, including: tracking my appointments, keeping a telephone book of all my friends and business acquaintances, maintaining a To-Do list, reading my e-mail, surfing the web, and much more.
When I first started investigating my family tree back in the B.C. days (that stands for "before computers"), I would carry one or more large three-ring binders on visits to genealogy libraries, archives, or courthouses. The binders contained hundreds of preprinted genealogy forms plus more pages of my handwritten notes. These formed my "database" of the time. Whenever I found new information, I had to thumb through the many pages to find related information I had found previously. Given the weight of the ever-expanding binders, it's a wonder my arms weren't extended another six inches simply from carrying them!
Today I accomplish the same tasks with a handheld computer. I carry this tiny powerhouse in a pocket or in a backpack or briefcase. Ladies can carry them in purses, too. My PDA weighs six ounces, and yet it contains as much genealogy information as ten pounds of paper in three-ring binders. I no longer have to pay overweight luggage charges when flying to distant genealogy libraries.
Best of all, a PDA organizes my genealogy data in a way that is easier to use, more flexible, and much faster than attempting the same thing on paper. For instance, when I want to find all occurrences of the name "Washington Harvey Eastman," I can do so in five or ten seconds with the handheld computer. Doing the same on paper might take a minute or two, assuming that I have manually created a top-notch index. Given my indexing skills, such a search through the three-ring binders more likely would require a half hour.
When I have spent hundreds of dollars for airfare, hotels, and restaurant meals to visit a distant library or archive, I feel that every second spent "on site" is critical. If I can save time on the mundane task of looking for information I have already found, I can dedicate more time to my search for new information. Use of a good genealogy program in a handheld computer helps me to accomplish more in the limited time that I can spend in the library or archive.
This week I will describe the various handheld computers available today. In next week's installment, I will describe the major genealogy programs available for these pocket-sized powerhouses.
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